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Is There Anything An F-16 Cannot Do? (Break from Politics)
Strategy Page ^ | April 21, 2013 | Strategy Page

Posted on 04/21/2013 3:06:00 PM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie

The U.S. Air Force prefers to use its F-16 fighters for everything. While the F-16 is a capable and versatile aircraft, the main reason for using it so much is because it is so cheap to operate. It costs the air force $23,000 per hour to operate an F-16C. Other fighters are much more expensive. An F-22 costs $68,000 an hour, while an F-15C costs $42,000 and an F-15E $36,000.

The only aircraft that beats the F-16C is the A-10C, which costs $18,000 an hour. But the A-10 is not a fighter and is optimized for ground support. The F-16 can also do that, but not as well. The other ground support aircraft, the AC-130U costs $46,000 an hour. That’s why these are being replaced by C-130 transports ($18,000 an hour) with special cargo containers consisting of sensors and weapons similar to those on the AC-130.

The F-16, like the A-10 can also drop smart bombs. Both aircraft are much cheaper at this than the bombers. The B-52H costs $70,000 an hour, the B-1B $58,000 and the B-2 $169,000. The problem with the bombers is that with smart bombs you don’t need a lot of bombs. So what the F-16 can carry (a dozen or more, depending on weight) is usually adequate in places like Afghanistan. For an attack on, say, North Korea, the bombers would come into their own, at least for the initial assault when there are a lot of targets to hit.

With the right sensors, missiles and electronic weapons plus well-trained pilots the F-16 can beat just about any other fighter out there. For stealth fighters, that would have to include sensors that can handle stealth. But stealth fighters often have the best sensors and electronics as well. Thus against most foes a well tricked out F-16 can do it all.


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: airforce; f16; usaf; usairforce
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To: Blood of Tyrants

Look up John Boyd. Interesting career.


41 posted on 04/21/2013 4:22:06 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: yarddog

I saw a documentary where a guy was trying to set the low level speed record in a jet. He was using a stripped down F-104. They tried to film his speed run, but the camera couldn’t keep up. When the camera finally finished panning left, all there was to see was dust. The guy had run it into the dirt. They sent some rescue vehicles out and I can remember thinking “That guy is a goner”. They found some pieces about the size of dinner plates. Then, they found the guy in his ejection seat. I think he had a broken leg and that was it. I believe they thought he hadn’t ejected, but just rode it in. Amazing.


42 posted on 04/21/2013 4:28:32 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Still Thinking

XB-70 Valkyrie


43 posted on 04/21/2013 4:29:05 PM PDT by biggerten (Love you, Mom.)
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To: sassy steel magnolia

Old Air Force magazine cartoon:

A zoomie in an F-4 is flying along with a BUFF. The zoomie of course has to show off, and then says to the BUFF pilot “You can’t do anything like that!”. The BUFF pilot responds “Yeah, but can you do this?” The BUFF keeps flying at the same speed, altitude, and direction.
Zoomie: “Do what?”
BUFF pilot: “Shut off two engines.”

Remember, fighter pilots make legends, bomber and attack pilots make history.


44 posted on 04/21/2013 4:29:48 PM PDT by Fred Hayek (The Democratic Party is now the operational arm of the CPUSA)
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To: blueunicorn6

Daryl Greenemeyer and his Red Baron

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1093756/index.htm


45 posted on 04/21/2013 4:31:21 PM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: blueunicorn6

46 posted on 04/21/2013 4:33:16 PM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: real saxophonist
I learned how to close a canopy on a SC ANG F-16 at MCAS Beaufort. Started to rain a little.

F8U-2N, Same venue.

47 posted on 04/21/2013 4:33:32 PM PDT by null and void (Republicans create the tools of oppression and Democrats use them. Gun confiscation enables tyranny.)
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To: Alberta's Child

There are a lot of them at Luke in the Phoenix valley with all of its dust and dirt. Doesn’t seem to keep it from being their main training base and the future base for the F-35.

I am close enough to see about a dozen take-offs a day without trying.


48 posted on 04/21/2013 4:33:44 PM PDT by KC Burke (Plain Conservative opinions and common sense correction for thirteen years)
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To: biggerten
XB-70 Valkyrie

Purportedly, the least stealthy aircraft ever.

Complete with radar and IR signatures that screamed out "Look at me!"

49 posted on 04/21/2013 4:34:48 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: blueunicorn6

If you look at a U2, it is obviously closely related to the F-104.


50 posted on 04/21/2013 4:35:06 PM PDT by yarddog (Truth, Justice, and what was once the American Way.)
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To: lurk

There are pretty girls, and then there’s the woman you want to bear your children.

If you’re in a firefight and you need 500 rounds of 30mm depleted uranium pumped into a spot, there’s only one platform for the job.


Ditto!


51 posted on 04/21/2013 4:35:34 PM PDT by aviator (Armored Pest Control)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie

52 posted on 04/21/2013 4:36:22 PM PDT by KC Burke (Plain Conservative opinions and common sense correction for thirteen years)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
I'm just shocked that after a full page of posts there are no pictures.

I always thought the Corsair II was a neat looking plane.

53 posted on 04/21/2013 4:37:25 PM PDT by Pan_Yan (I believe in God. All else is dubious.)
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To: Alberta's Child

Don’t know about that, every jet fighter I’ve ever heard of was capable of sucking FOD off the runway.

I spent two years at a F16 base. Every take off was on full afterburner and not one jet went down because of FOD.


54 posted on 04/21/2013 4:39:39 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do ithat when I have a fire.)
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To: yarddog
I was just thinking of when I was a kid they had fighters which were just as fast as what we have now.

In 1963, 50 years ago, the F-104 would do 1500 mph.


I know, I think with the exception of electronics, we have reached a plateau in jet fighter technology around 1960 or so. I get in trouble for saying this but I think if you add in some avionics upgrades to an F-4, F-14 or even a MiG-21, it can do most of what an F-22 or a Sukhoi-30 can do today. I always admired the more, cheaper fighters like the F-5/F-16/F-20 as well.

Same with firearms, we basically hit a plateau about 75 or 100 years ago with the exception of plastics. I'm sure you could make an M-16 or M-4 with a wooden stock and grip using 1930's technology although it would be somewhat heavier to lug around.

The only downside of an F-16 is that it cannot be operated from a carrier but that's what we have the F-18's of various mods and marks for, although we should have kept the F-14.
55 posted on 04/21/2013 4:41:11 PM PDT by Nowhere Man (Whitey, I miss you so much. Take care, pretty girl. (4-15-2001 - 10-12-2012))
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To: NonValueAdded
I think the T-38 is the sexiest of them all.

Cool! I'm a big F-5/F-20 fan which the T-38 came from (F-5).
56 posted on 04/21/2013 4:44:07 PM PDT by Nowhere Man (Whitey, I miss you so much. Take care, pretty girl. (4-15-2001 - 10-12-2012))
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To: Nowhere Man

“I get in trouble for saying this but I think if you add in some avionics upgrades to an F-4, F-14 or even a MiG-21, it can do most of what an F-22 or a Sukhoi-30 can do today. “

Not even close except for the F14.


57 posted on 04/21/2013 4:46:16 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do ithat when I have a fire.)
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To: ImJustAnotherOkie
Ah, that reminds me, I love the Avro Arrow too as well as have a soft spot for the CF-100 Canuck.

 photo Avro_Arrow.jpg
58 posted on 04/21/2013 4:47:14 PM PDT by Nowhere Man (Whitey, I miss you so much. Take care, pretty girl. (4-15-2001 - 10-12-2012))
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To: KC Burke

59 posted on 04/21/2013 4:48:46 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do ithat when I have a fire.)
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To: Pan_Yan

I remember the A-7’s too. We had them based here in Pittsburgh for the Penna Air Nat’l Guard. The guy who was in charge of their repair shop lived two door down from me.


60 posted on 04/21/2013 4:49:36 PM PDT by Nowhere Man (Whitey, I miss you so much. Take care, pretty girl. (4-15-2001 - 10-12-2012))
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